Federal Decree by Law No. (11) of 2025 Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority

Purpose and legislative background

The law consolidates federal media governance, strategic communication, media regulation and WAM functions within one National Media Authority and establishes the new institutional structure from 2026.

No later amendment was identified in the official source reviewed on 31 August 2026.

Scope and who it applies to

• The National Media Authority and its governance bodies.
• Media outlets and media activities falling within the Authority's federal regulatory/licensing remit.
• Electronic media and electronic publishing, including relevant free-zone activities.
• Media professionals and foreign-media correspondents subject to registration/accreditation.
• Government entities and legacy media bodies affected by the transfer/succession provisions.

Key definitions

• The law defines the State, Authority, Chairman and Secretary-General and incorporates relevant terminology from Federal Decree by Law No. (55) of 2023 regarding media regulation unless context requires otherwise.

Main rights and obligations

• The Authority must exercise its statutory competences and coordinate with relevant entities.
• Media outlets and activities must comply with the licensing, content and regulatory framework issued under applicable media legislation.
• Authority officers and transferred staff operate under the governance and administrative systems established by the law and implementing decisions.

Procedures and compliance

• Identify whether the activity requires a media licence, registration or accreditation under current Authority rules.
• For electronic media/free-zone activities, check both local/free-zone authorisation and federal media requirements.
• Use current National Media Authority channels rather than relying solely on legacy predecessor-body procedures.
• Check whether a legacy regulation remains effective under Article 16 before applying it.

Deadlines and time limits

• Effective date: 1 January 2026.
• The decree-law does not set a general public licensing deadline; operational deadlines arise from media-regulation legislation and Authority resolutions.

Enforcement, violations and penalties

['This decree-law primarily establishes and organises the Authority. Licensing breaches, prohibited content and sanctions are governed principally by the applicable media-regulation legislation and implementing rules.']

Source distinction: A penalty or enforcement measure stated as part of the legislation must be checked against the enacted article. Administrative details may be supplied by Cabinet, ministry, regulator or judicial-authority instruments. The practical commentary here is not a substitute for those instruments.

Practical scenarios

1. A digital publisher operating from a free zone should confirm whether its activity requires federal media licensing or content compliance in addition to free-zone approval.
2. A foreign correspondent should check the current National Media Authority accreditation process.
3. A government/media entity using an old UAE Media Council circular should verify that it remains valid under the transitional clause.
4. A contract formerly held by WAM or a predecessor media body should be reviewed against Article 13's succession rules.

Amendments and related legislation

No later amendment was identified in the official source reviewed on 31 August 2026.

Related legislation and official guidance listed in the manifest and research notes should be checked together with the principal law, especially where the principal law delegates detail to an executive regulation, Cabinet resolution, regulator rule or judicial guide.

What businesses and individuals should check

• This institutional decree-law should be read with Federal Decree by Law No. (55) of 2023 Regarding the Regulation of Media and current Authority regulations.
• Legacy UAE Media Council/National Media Office/WAM decisions may continue only to the extent preserved by Article 16 and not inconsistent with the new framework.
• Media businesses should verify the currently competent authority and licensing route before relying on pre-2026 guidance.
• Free-zone operation does not automatically remove an activity from the federal media framework.
• Confirm that the version of the law and implementing instruments being used is current on the date of the transaction or dispute.
• Keep a copy or citation of the official source used for any compliance decision.
• Do not rely on the cover artwork as evidence of official publication or government endorsement.

When legal advice may be useful

Professional interpretation may be useful where the applicable legal regime is disputed, a licence or regulatory perimeter is unclear, a transitional rule affects an existing right or contract, a penalty or enforcement action is possible, or facts span multiple Emirates, free zones or foreign jurisdictions.

Information status

This explanation was researched and checked on 2026-08-31. It provides general legal information and should be re-verified against the official source for any later amendment or implementing decision.